Emergency Behavioral Health Services
ALERT #24 ___________________ October 5, 2007 EMERGENCY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES PROGRAMS AND HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS FOR MBHP MEMBERS AND UNINSURED CONSUMERS The following information should be communicated immediately to other appropriate staff in your organization. The Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership (MBHP) is the company that manages behavioral health (mental health and substance abuse) services for MassHealth’s Primary Care Clinician (PCC) Plan Members*. Additionally, MBHP is contracted with the Department of Mental Health to manage most of the Emergency Services Programs (ESPs) across the Commonwealth. In that role, MBHP is issuing this Alert to hospital Emergency Departments (EDs), MBHP network providers, and other interested stakeholders in order to provide clarification and guidance relative to the management of behavioral health emergencies in the ED setting. More specifically, this Alert delineates the roles and responsibilities of the Emergency Services Programs (ESPs) and describes an individual’s progression through this system, with a goal of expediting his or her movement through the hospital ED and into acute behavioral health services, as medically necessary. ESPs function as a “safety net” for all citizens of the Commonwealth regardless of age, payer, or ability to pay. It is important to note that the policies and procedures in this Alert applies to those populations for whom the ESPs are contracted with MBHP to serve, which includes MBHP members, MassHealth (non-MCO enrolled) Members, uninsured consumers, and DMH consumers. However, it is also important to note that MassHealth also requires the four Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) contracted with MassHealth to utilize the ESP system for emergency behavioral health services for MassHealth MCO enrolled Members.
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